Cap and elastic face hood

ABSTRACT

A cap comprises a top cap portion and a relatively more elastic face hood portion which can be telescoped therewithin. The face hood portion comprises a lower end opening and a face opening. The face hood portion is folded inwardly of the cap portion so that the line at which the top cap portion and face hood portion meet is disposed within the lower part of the top cap portion Elastic stitching along the aforesaid line secures the face hood portion within the top cap portion. Several embodiments of the cap are disclosed. In one embodiment the top cap portion comprises a single layer of material knitted from regular yarn and the integrally formed face hood portion comprises a single layer of material knitted from two types of regular yarn and elastic yarn. In other embodiments the relatively elastic face hood portion comprises two layers of material and either or both layers are relatively more elastic than the top cap portion. In still other embodiments the top cap portion and face hood portion each comprises two layers of material.

United States Patent [191 Zientara 1451 *Oct. 1, 1974 [73] Assignee: Zwicker Knitting Mills, Appleton,

Wis.

[ Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to July 24, 1990, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Nov. 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 302,753

[52] US. Cl. 2/202, 2/173 [51] Int. Cl A42b l/06 [58] Field of Search 2/202, 203, 205, 201, 200,

Primary Examinerlordan Franklin Assistant ExaminerPeter Nerbun Attorney, Agent, or FirmJames E. Nilles [5 7] ABSTRACT A cap comprises a top cap portion and a relatively more elastic face hood portion which can be telescoped therewithin. The face hood portion comprises a lower end opening and a face opening. The face hood portion is folded inwardly of the cap portion so that the line at which the top cap portion and face hood portion meet is disposed within the lower part of the top cap portion. Elastic stitching along the aforesaid line secures the face hood portion within the top cap portion. Several embodiments of the cap are disclosed. In one embodiment the top cap portion comprises a single layer of material knitted from regular yarn and the integrally formed face hood portion comprises a single layer of material knitted from two types of regular yarn and elastic yarn. In other embodiments the relatively elastic face hood portion comprises two layers of material and either or both layers are relatively more elastic than the top cap portion. In still other embodiments the top cap portion and face hood portion each comprises two layers of material.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures minnow 1814 3,838,467

sum anr BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Use This invention pertains to wearing apparel such as caps which have a top cap portion and a relatively more elastic telescoping face hood.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various types of caps are commercially available which have a top cap portion and a telescoping face hood portion having a face opening therein which can be drawn down to cover a substantial portion of the wearers head and face. US. Pat. No. 2,998,61 l issued Sept. 5, 1961 to W. E. Schuessler for Cuffed Cap and Face Hood and Method of Forming discloses one such type of cap which employs a relatively large foldable external cuff. One of the difficulties encountered in the design and manufacture of caps of this general type is to provide a cap wherein the face hood portion does not tend to creep outwardly from the top cap portion when telescoped therein when in use and to do so without the necessity of providing a bulky external cuff. Another problem is to provide such a cap which fits snugly about the head of the wearer whether or not the face hood portion is withdrawn and in use. US. Pat. application Ser. No. 226,152, filed Feb. 14, 1972 by Donald Zientara for Cap and Face Hood and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, discloses a cap which overcomes these problems and difficulties and the present invention is a further improvement thereover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a one- ,piece cap is provided and which is preferably formed of a one-piece knitted tubular body, which comprises a top cap portion and an integrally formed relatively more elastic face hood portion which can be telescoped therewithin. The face hood portion comprises a lower end opening and a face opening thereabove. The top cap portion and the relatively more elastic face hood portion join ormeet alonga demarcation linqabove the face opening. The face hood portion is folded inwardly of the p ppg t ms thatth sm rs tiw line is disposed within the top cap portion. Elastic stitching in the form of elastic thread is employed along the demarcation line to secure the face hood portion within the top cap portion. The elastic thread stitches along the demarcation line and the upper end of the relatively more elastic face hood portion cooperate to make the lower end of the top cap portion and the upper end of the face hood portion more snugly fitting on the wearers head. The demarcation line also serves as a sewing marker. Furthermore, the tighter stitching of the face hood portion along the demarcation line provides a denser surface (on the inside of the cap) for engagement with the elastic thread and reduces the likelihood of the stitches tearing out. Also, the arrangement provides a small, aesthetically pleasing rim or ridge near the lower edge of the top cap portion. In further accordance with the invention, the relatively more elastic tubular face hood portion of the cap provides a better and snugger fit about the wearers face and head.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the top cap portion and the face hood portion are integrally formed of a single layer of knitted material. The top cap portion is fabricated of conventional yarn employed, for example, in a jersey knit stitch to provide a bulky fabric. The face hood portion is fabricated of one or more conventional yarns and an elastic yarn employed, for example, in a one-by-one rib stitch to provide a more elastic fabric than that in the top cap portion.

In other embodiments the relatively more elastic face hood portion comprises two layers of material, either or both of which layers are elastic.

In still other embodiments of the invention, the top cap portion may comprise a double layer of material.

In carrying out the invention, it is contemplated that both portions of the cap be fabricated of flexible material, such as cloth formed, for example, by knitting, crotcheting, weaving or similar processes or some combination thereof.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that the relatively greater elasticity in the face hood portion of the cap results from either the type of stitch employed or the type of yarn employed (i.e.-, elastic yarn comprising, for example, rubber and nylon strands spun together) or a combination of both.

DRAWINGS FIG. I is'a side elevational view of a cap in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the face hood portion withdrawn from within the top cap portion;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the tubular sleeve of which the cap shown in FIG. 1 is made with both upper and lower ends open; I

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the face hood portion folded upwardly within the top cap portion and secured therein by elastic thread;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the knitting stitch used in the top cap portion of the cap;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the knitting stitch and yarn used in the face hood portion of the cap;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion of a cap having a double-layer elastic face hood portion; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing a portion of a cap having a double-layer top cap portion and a double-layer elastic face hood portion.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT of the cap FIG. 1 shows a cap 10 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention with only the exterior of the top cap portion 12 visible. FIG. 2 shows cap 10 with the face hood portion 14 withdrawn from inside top cap portion 12. Cap 10 is usable in either configuration by a wearer. When used in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, face hood portion 14 fits over the wearers face, with lower edge 16 extending around the neck of the wearer. If preferred, the face opening 18 may be enlarged by stretching to expose the eyes, nose and mouth of the wearer. FIG. 5 shows in cross-section how face hood portion 14 telescopes within top cap portion 12.

Cap 10 may be fabricated of one or more separate sewn-together pieces but preferably is fabricated from a one-piece tubular knitted body or sleeve 20, shown in FIG. 3, on a tubular knitting machine of known type. However, body 20 could be formed by weaving, crocheting or in some other manner.

in cap 10, the preferred embodiment of the invention, the top cap portion 12 and the face hood portion 14 of cap 10 are integrally formed of a single layer of knitted material. The top cap portion 12 is fabricated of conventional yarn 21 (such as Creslon) employed, for example, in a jersey knit stitch, as shown in FIG. 6, to provide a bulky fabric. The face hood portion 14 is fabricated of one or more conventional yarns 22 and 23 (both Creslon but of different diameter) and an elastic yarn 24 employed, for example, in a one-by-one rib stitch, as shown in FIG. 7, to provide a more elastic fabric than that in the top cap portion 12. Portions l2 and 14 meet along a demarcation line 25.

The edge of face opening 18 and the lower edge of the face hood portion 14 are provided or gathered, at an appropriate stage in the manufacture of cap 10, with elastic bindings 28 and 30, respectively, so as to make these openings expandable, yet tending to draw closed. Furthermore, the upper edge of the top cap portion 12 is drawn together and sewn at an appropriate stage of manufacture to enclose and finish the upper end of top cap portion 12.

As FIG. 4 shows, during manufacture, the upper end of face hood portion 14 is folded inwardly of the lower end of top cap portion 12 so that the demarcation line 25 is disposed a short distance within top cap portion 12. Face hood portion 14 and top cap portion 12 are then stitched together along a horizontal stitch line '34 by means of elastic stitching which passes through and along the demarcation line 21 and the material of top cap portion 12. The elastic stitching along line 34 preferably takes the form of elastic thread 36 i.e., thread comprising elastic material, such as rubber, surrounded by fabric, with the locking portion of the stitching lying against the demarcation line 21. However, other forms or types of elastic thread, or thread stitched in an elastic fashion could be employed.

As FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and show, such stitching provides a small roll or bead of material 38 about the lower edge of top cap portion 12 which is visible whether or not face hood portion 14 is telescoped within top cap portion 12 and provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance to cap 10.

The elastic stitching along line 34 and the elasticity of the portion 14 near the top edge thereof cooperate in tending to draw the lower portion of top cap portion 12, and the upper portion of face hood portion 14, inwardly and thus provide a cap which fits snugly on the head of the wearer. Furthermore, this arrangement eliminates any tendency for face hood portion 14 from creeping out of top cap portion 12 when telescoped therein, whether or not cap 10 is on the Wearers head.

In other embodiments shown in FIGS. 8and 9, the relatively more elastic face hood portion 14 comprises two layers of material 14A and 14B, either or both of which layers ]re elastic.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 9, the top cap portion 12 may comprise a uouble layer of material comprising two layers fia and 125.

In carrying out the invention, it is contemplated that soth portions 12 and 14 of the cap be fabricated of flexible material, such as cloth formed, for example, by knitting, crotcheting, weaving or similar processes or some tombination thereof.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that the relatively greater elasticity in the face hood portion 14 of the cap results from either the type of stitch employed or the type of yarn employed (i.e., elastic yam comprising, for example, rubber and nylon strands spun together) or a combinationof both.

I claim:

l. A cap formed of an elongated tubular body of knitted material comprising a top cap portion and a face hood portion joined together along a line, said top cap portion and said face hood portion comprising different stitching whereby said face hood portion is more dense and elastic than said top cap portion, said face hood portion having an open lower end and at least one opening located between said line and said open lower end, said face hood portion being telescopable within said top cap portion, and an external roll formed by a first fold at the lower end of said top cap portion and a second'fold at the upper end of said face hood portion whereby said line is disposed inwardly of said top cap portion and outwardly of said face portion, and elastic stitching extending through said cap along said line and through said first fold of said top cap portion for securing said face hood portion within said top cap portion and for securing said first and second folds together to form said roll and for maintaining said roll in position when said face hood portion is telescoped or extended.

yarn. 

1. A cap formed of an elongated tubular body of knitted material comprising a top cap portion and a face hood portion joined together alOng a line, said top cap portion and said face hood portion comprising different stitching whereby said face hood portion is more dense and elastic than said top cap portion, said face hood portion having an open lower end and at least one opening located between said line and said open lower end, said face hood portion being telescopable within said top cap portion, and an external roll formed by a first fold at the lower end of said top cap portion and a second fold at the upper end of said face hood portion whereby said line is disposed inwardly of said top cap portion and outwardly of said face portion, and elastic stitching extending through said cap along said line and through said first fold of said top cap portion for securing said face hood portion within said top cap portion and for securing said first and second folds together to form said roll and for maintaining said roll in position when said face hood portion is telescoped or extended.
 2. A cap according to claim 1 wherein said top cap portion comprises jersey knit stitches and said face hood stitching comprises rib stitches.
 3. A cap according to claim 2 wherein said face hood portion comprises elastic yarn.
 4. A cap according to claim 3 wherein said face hood portion further comprises at least one other yarn in addition to elastic yarn.
 5. A cap according to claim 4 wherein said face hood portion comprises elastic yarn, nylon yarn and acrylic yarn. 